World dancing king and queen to be crowned

Moiika Stanley makes it clear that, financially, the Wan Move Diaspora Dance Convention she is planning for November 26 to December 2, 2018, is at a break-even stage. However, straddling the creative, legal and business worlds as a dancer, lawyer and entrepreneur, she does plan to have a booth at the convention where talent is signed up and then promoted as well as developed.

"As a dancehall queen (she won the title at Pier 1, Montego Bay, in 2008) I had to break stereotypes. But that is because I come from a certain background. I want to change that image (of dancing), to uplift that image ... I want the movement to go forward, not me. I think people buy into ideas, not people. I want it to be about buying into the idea and not people," Stanley told The Gleaner as she spoke about the year-end convention.

ELEMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS

Still, there is an element of competitiveness, as a global dancing king and a global dancing queen will be crowned, the winners receiving cash prizes. Stanley told The Gleaner that the cash inflows from the persons coming into Jamaica for the event will help offset costs for local participants, who will pay lower fees. She is confident of the overseas participation, as a network of regional directors is mandated to bring in five to 25 participants each. Among the countries which currently have directors assigned are South Africa, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Peru, Brazil, Netherlands, Portugal, the USA and Canada.

Stanley has first-hand knowledge of the places she is expecting overseas participants from.

"In the last 18 months, I have travelled to 63 countries teaching dancing ... I said let's bring everybody together in Jamaica, my home. That is where inspired me to move around the world," Stanley said.